A transformer fire at KARE’s building Tuesday afternoon resulted in a complete evacuation of the station's staff and its broadcast facility. The fire, which started around 1:30 p.m. on the building's south side, caused no injuries. KARE 11 reported that power was cut to the building during the fire as a preventative measure against further damage.
As of Wednesday afternoon, staff are still unable to access the building, and the extent of the damage to broadcast infrastructure and equipment remains unknown. Despite these significant disruptions, KARE 11 successfully aired its 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts on Tuesday, utilizing a temporary remote setup near its broadcast tower in Shoreview. The station acknowledged a simplified format and reduced image quality for these broadcasts.
Wednesday morning's “KARE 11 Sunrise” newscast was broadcast from WXIA, a sister station within the Tegna network, located in Atlanta. KARE anchors Lauren Leamanczyk and John Zeigler temporarily relocated to WXIA, receiving production support from the Atlanta team. KARE confirmed to NCS that it will continue leveraging Tegna’s resources, producing newscasts from WXIA until a suitable temporary local workspace is secured. The station reassured NCS that its commitment to providing comprehensive news and weather coverage across both linear and digital platforms remains unwavering.